The New Mexico Air National Guard has been without its own operational flying mission since 2010, when the F-16s they once flew were reassigned to other Guard units.

Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation have spoken up in support of resuming a flying mission for the "Tacos" in a letter sent to Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson on Nov. 28.

The letter expresses support for the Air National Guard's 150th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base to receive 12 legacy HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to use for training and, if necessary, use in missions.

Several HH-60Gs are currently in use by Kirtland's 58th Special Operations Wing and are expected to be sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for retirement.

"As you know, the New Mexico Air National Guard has a long legacy of service to our nation, and you have previously agreed during testimony before the U.S. Senate that you would also like to see the Tacos in a flying mission again," reads the letter from sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and reps. Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Wilson is a former U.S. representative from New Mexico.

The 150th Special Operation Wing currently provides support for the 58th Special Operations Wing, which is expected to receive the first HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter — the HH-60G's replacement — in fiscal year 2020.

The New Mexico Air National Guard is the only Air National Guard in the country without an operational flying mission and one of three without unit-equipped aircraft.

"Transferring HH-60Gs to the 150th ... will satisfy one of Air National Guard's Capstone Principles of ensuring each state's Air National Guard has a unit equipped wing and flying squadron," the letter from the congressional delegation reads.

New Mexico National Guard Adjutant Gen. Ken Nava also has made regaining a flying mission a priority during his tenure leading the guard.

"Gov. Susana Martinez and I have been working on the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Special Operations Wing becoming a unit-equipped wing," Nava said in an email. "...If given the opportunity to grow and support the training and operational needs of the Air Force and our nation, the New Mexico Air National Guard stands ready to fulfill that role."

The HH-60G came into operation in 1982 and is designed for personnel recover in hostile conditions. They were used in Operation Desert Storm as well as multiple humanitarian relief missions.

There are currently 67 in the active force, 17 in the Air National Guard and 15 in the Reserves.